Washing-machine



mamm l. I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

N. HOLMES.

WASHING MACHINE.

N0. 285,411. Patented Sept. 25, 1883.

N. PETERs. Pholo-Lhlwmphor. Whhingim. n c.

(No Model.) 2 SheetS -Sheez 2.

N. HOLMES.

WASHING- MACHINE.

No. 285,411. Patented Sept. 25, 1883.

@WWWWW N. PETERS. PlmXo-Lnlvographer. Washington. a. a

UNrrn STATES n'rENr @rrrc t NELSON HOLMES, OF YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part.o f Letters Patent No. 285,411, datedSeptember 25, 1883.

Application filed May 28, 1883. (No model.)

silanti, in the county of VVashtenaw and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in W ashing-Machines; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same. a

My invention relates to an improvement in washing-machines, the objectof the same being to provide strong and substantial means for yieldinglyconnecting the rotary rubber to the driving-shaft, whereby the rubber isallowed to accommodateitself to the articles being washed 5 and withthis end in view my invention consists in the parts and combinations ofparts, as will be more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of myimprovement. Fig. 2is a sectional view, showing the parts secured to atub. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the shaitsupportingchair, and Fig. 4 is a plan View of the shaft.

Arepresents a tub, and B the cover thereof, to which my improvement issecured by the screws a. The metallic plates 0 are each providedwith theupwardly-converging arms I), which form bearings for the pins (Z, onwhich latter the driving-gean D is journaled. This gear D is providedwith teeth throughout a portion of its circumference, and is alsoprovided with a socket, E, for the introduction of one end of ahandle,bywhich the device is operated.

The two plates 0 are rigidly connected to gether by the arms b, and alsoby the detachable plate 0, the opposite ends of which lat ter aresecured in suitable sockets formed in the lower face of the plate 0,immediately below one set of arms, I). This plate is enlarged centrallyto form a bearing for the vertical shaft F, to the lower end of whichthe rubber is secured. The extreme upper end of the shaft F, which isconsiderably reduced in size, rests in a socket or bearing, 0, formed onthe under side of the arms 6, immediately below' one of the pins (1,which supports the main The chair is then screwed thereon and thedrivinggear.

G is a small bevel-wheel, rigidly secured to the shaft F above the plate0. This wheel meshes with the dri-Ving-gearD and oscillates the shaft F,and at the same time holds the said shaft in position in its bearings byresting on the upper face of the plate 0. That portion of the shaft Fbelow the shoulder d is made angular in cross-section, and is hollowedont for the reception of the spiral spring H, the

lower end of which rest-s 011 the bolt 1. This bolt is secured to thesleeve J, and passes through the oblong slots f, formed on oppositesides of the shaft F. The sleeveJ is provided at its lower end with thelaterally-extending arms 9, by meansof which it is secured to the rubberK. .This sleeve at its upper end conforms in shape to the shaft F, andis adapted to receive all the strain therefrom, while the boltI merelyserves to hold the parts together and form a seat for the spring. Thelower end of the sleeve is considerably enlarged, which allows therotary or reciprocating rubber to wabble or incline, and consequentlyaccommodate itself to the articles being washed, when the latter areplaced unevenly in the tub. This sleeve J is of sufficient length toenable it to inclose a greaterportion of the shaft F below the shoulderd, and is secured to the upper face of the rotary or oscillating rubber,which latter is adapted to bear on the clothes in the ordinary manner.This rubber limits the upward movement of the sleeve on the shaft andprevents the said shaft from coming in contact with the clothes, as isthe case with the majority of rotary machines of this class.

The plates and arms, or the chair formed by the combined plates andarms, are secured to the cover of the tub by suitable screws, and whenthe said cover is locked in a closed position the rotary rubber bears011 the clothes therein. By moving the hand-lever the rubber isoscillated, and the universal joint formed by the gradual enlargement ofthe sleeve allows the rubber to accommodate itself to i11- equalities inthe distribution of the articles over the bottom of the tub.

To apply my device to a tub it is simply necessary to form an openingthrough the cover thereof large enough to admit the shaft.

rubber secured to the shaft by passing the bolt through the sleeve andoblong slots in the shaft and under the spring. WVhen the tub has beenpartly filled with the articles to be washed, the cover is locked inposition. The yielding connection between the rubber and shaft enablesthe former to give to accommodate itself to the articles, while thespring which actuates the same holds it in 'close contact with the saidarticles.

It is preferred to make the several parts of my device, and particularlythose which are submerged in water, of galvanized iron, to prevent themfrom rusting.

This improvement is exceedingly simple in construction, is durable andeffective in use, and can be manufactured at a small initial cost.

I am aware that it is not new to secure an angular shaft within a hollowsleeve and interpose a spring between the lower end of the shaft and therubber, and hence I make no claim thereto.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a hollow angular shaftprovided on oppositefaces with oblong slots, of a rubber, a sleeve rigidly secured to thesame, the upper end of the said sleeve closely embracing the shaft andconnected thereto, as set forth, the lower end of said shaft beingconsiderably enlarged to enable the rubber to tilt or wablole, andconsequently accommodate itself to inequalities in the thickness of thearticles being washed, and a spring located between the shaft and therubber, for holding the rubber in contact with the articles,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the hollow angular shaft, having oblong slotsin opposite faces, driving mechanism connected therewith, and a springsituated therein, of a rubber, the sleeve constructed substantially asdescribed and secured to a rubber, and a bolt passing through the sleeveand the oblong openings in the shaft and forming a seat for the springsubstantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

NELSON HOLMES.

Vitnesses:

THOMAS NINDE, ALBERT R. GRAVES.

